Aurora Aquino Bayani

Aurora Aquino Bayani, age 93, of National City, California passed away on Friday January 4, 2019. She was born in Manila, Philippines on February 27, 1925 to Domingo and Felicidad Aquino. Mom was the oldest of six children. She met our father, Pablo Santo Domingo Bayani, at a cigar factory where he was her supervisor. Dad joined the Navy on December 6, 1941, the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. They fell in love and eventually married on March 28, 1943. They had two daughters and four sons in the Philippines before the Navy transferred Dad to Japan in 1957. There they had another daughter in 1958. The Navy then sent them to San Diego in 1959 where they had two more sons and eventually settled in National City.

For many years Mom worked as a seamstress for Ratner Clothing in downtown San Diego sewing

men's suits. She also used her talents as a seamstress to make clothes for her children. Mom was

later employed at a tuna cannery in San Diego and retired to become a full-time grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, also known as "Lola."

Mom may not have sought fame and fortune, but she was rich in family and tradition. Holidays and family celebrations at the Bayani House on Melrose Street were always filled with love, laughter and of course delicious Filipino food. Mom made the best lumpias on the planet. Besides spending time with her family and watching Family Feud, Mom enjoyed going to the casinos to play slots. She would call it her "therapy." She lived a rich and happy life, and is survived by eight children, sixteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her son, Mario Jimmy in 1962 and husband, Pablo in 1994. We will miss her dearly.

A memorial reception and rosary will be held Sunday, February 3, 2019 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the main chapel at Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902.

A funeral mass will occur Monday, February 4, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 426 E. 7th Street, National City, CA 91950. Committal ceremony will be Monday, February 4, 2019 at 1:30 PM, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GlenAbbeysandiego.com for the Bayani family. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Diabetes Association - www.diabetes.org.